MI Salon Kyoto, a closed community for new business managers at manufacturing companies, begins recruitment for 2026 participants!

Monozukuri Ventures (Headquarters: Kyoto and New York, USA, CEO: Narimasa Makino, hereinafter "MZV"), which operates a venture capital fund specializing in hard tech startups, will begin recruiting participants for the "MI Salon Kyoto" closed community for new business managers at manufacturing companies for the 2026 fiscal year. What is MI Salon? MI Salon (Monozukuri Innovation Salon) is a closed co-creation community for new business managers at manufacturing companies. It was launched in fiscal year 2023, primarily targeting large manufacturing companies, as a community for exchanging information on how to create and sustain new businesses, such as new business creation and carve-outs. In fiscal year 2025, in addition to MI Salon Kyoto, MI Salon Aichi was also launched, and it has grown into an established community with over 20 manufacturing companies participating. Participating companies share their respective new business initiatives, case studies of collaboration with startups, and challenges, thereby deepening discussions to gain new insights and learning, serving as a place for co-creation. ■ MI Salon, More details here MI Salon Kyoto 2026 Event Outline Period: May 2026 - February 2027 Frequency: Held approximately once a month, combining offline and online sessions. Eligibility: Individuals responsible for new business planning/operations or collaboration with startups at manufacturing companies. Participation is subject to screening, so please inquire if you are interested. Content: * Sharing of each company's new business creation initiatives and knowledge. * Sharing of collaboration methods with startups, minority investments, M&A case studies, etc. * Sharing of trends in manufacturing-related startups. * Visits to innovation hubs of major corporations. * Collaborative events with MI Salons in other regions (Aichi, etc.) and startups. * Building connections among new business managers beyond company boundaries. * Other sharing of company-specific challenges and cases that can only be handled in a closed environment. How to Apply: 1. Please inquire first. ▼ Inquiry Form here (https://forms.clickup.com/25504961/f/rab61-10938/XS019LWFLJUROXDO6S) 2. The management office will provide a dedicated application form for you to complete. 3. After screening by Monozukuri Ventures and signing a pledge agreement, you can participate. Recruitment Period: Until the end of April 2026. Participation Fee: Free (potential for future paid services) *For offline events, actual costs for networking events, etc., may be charged as needed. https://monozukuri.vc/ja/misalonkyoto/ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Q. Can I not participate if I don't have a base in Kyoto? A. Participation is possible regardless of where your base is located in Japan. Q. How often are offline (in-person) events planned? A. Offline events are planned approximately once every two months. Q. Where will the offline events be held? A. Primarily in the Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo), but may be outside of Kansai for company visits. Q. How many people can participate per company? A. We expect 1-3 people per company. Q. Will an NDA be signed? A. An NDA will be signed upon participation in this salon. About Monozukuri Ventures Monozukuri Ventures is a company based in Kyoto and New York that operates a VC fund for hardware startups and provides technical consulting on hardware prototyping and manufacturing. It was launched in January 2020, consolidating the management resources for supporting hardware startups from Darma Tech Labs Inc. (Kyoto), which operates Makers Boot Camp, and FabFoundry, Inc. (New York City). To date, it has invested in 59 hardware startups in Japan and the US (28 in Japan, 31 in the US). It has also supported over 250 prototyping and mass production projects, mainly for startups. (All figures are as of November 2025). Monozukuri Ventures [Representative Director] Narimasa Makino [Address] Umeda Koji Market 3F, 34 Suzaku Hōzō-chō, Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture [URL] https://monozukuri.vc/ja/ ■ See recent media coverage here. https://monozukuri.vc/ja/news/?group0=gr1_media